We readily assume that 16- to 34-year-olds are tech savvy. But is this really true?

American millennials have received the most schooling of any generation, but consistently score below international peers in not just literacy and mathematics, but now in a new category, digital literacy, which is the ability to efficiently use, access and navigate computers and digital information. Technology has emerged as a cornerstone of American education. Young Americans, despite being labeled as naturally inclined toward technology, are falling behind in their ability to use it effectively.

According to the Princeton-based Educational Testing Service, millennials are lacking a specific skill that employers routinely need: a category they define as "problem-solving in technology-rich environments." When it comes to the use of technology, where millennials supposedly shine, Americans scored in a four-way tie for last place with Ireland, Poland and the Slovak Republic among 22 countries studied.

This is already having an impact. Without IT skills, young students who have earned a high school diploma or even a postsecondary degree are still struggling to participate in the economy. This is concerning, as millennials are entering the technology-dependent workforce in growing numbers.

We need a solution: Far too many students are graduating from high school and earning college degrees without adequate tech skills and competency. If this continues, our nation's economy will face negative consequences in coming years.

A solution can be the widespread implementation of IT training programs to ensure the technical competency of young adults. Often referred to as boot camps, these accelerated learning programs focus on the IT skill acquisition of their students. While they are not degree-granting, they often result in industry recognized credentials in hot fields such as coding, data science, and web design and development.

These IT-focused programs can improve the quality of our workforce for years to come, and here is why:

Through these programs, students can better understand and learn core computer technologies and improve their employability. They need to understand the functionality of operating systems, databases and the internet, and, at the very least, be able to use basic applications like Microsoft Word, Gmail, Dropbox, etc. Our formal education system seems to be failing us in this area: According to the Indeed blog, as of 2016, 32 percent of people ages 16 to 29 have had no work-related computer experience, meaning that millennials are not developing the tech skills needed for the workplace.

Young adults can improve employment opportunities in IT without a college degree. In 2013, 36 percent of IT professionals did not have a college degree, according to a White House fact sheet. Employers have not been picky, and accept individuals with a training background that costs a fraction of a college degree.

These programs usually offer industry-recognized IT credentials upon competition. Employers routinely prefer certified professionals in the IT field. IT jobs are hot, and companies across the board need tech-savvy employees to ensure competitiveness. A credential signifies that an employee has the skills needed for the job.

If we want a competitive and skilled workforce and a robust economy, policymakers and other stakeholders need to realize that increasing our population's digital literacy, especially among younger generations, is the way forward.

This is a complex challenge, but we know the problem. The tech industry grows and evolves at a rapid pace, and too many of us are being left behind. We need IT training programs to supplement our education system; if not, America will not fill 600,000 open IT jobs, will lag behind in international competitiveness and its youth will continue to face obstacles in finding rewarding careers and getting themselves into the middle class.

Kevin J. Conlan, 28, of West Haven, is the director of IT strategy and operations at DCI Resources LLC based in New Haven, which provides information technology training.